Cultural code of the image of dragon in Russian cinema (I am dragon, film of 2015) and its perception by Chinese audiences

The study discusses the archetypal image of dragon in Eastern and European cultures. This image can be found in many myths and tales of the world as it is an archetype. The European and Chinese images of dragon have always been very different. In the modern world, there is a tendency to merge different cultures, which is facilitated by cinema among other things. By a case study of I Am Dragon, a 2015 Russian film, the author shows the meanings of the archetypal image of dragon that have been embodied by the main character of the film. A survey of Chinese students helps identify the reasons for the popularity of this film in China. Its popularity can be explained by the love theme and the idea that Chinese people regard themselves as the descendants of dragons. The author concludes that, despite the globalization of modern culture, the meanings of images and archetypes differ from each other across cultures and are viewed differently across countries. This fact should be considered when teaching international students and trainees.